Embedded Files
No Limits: Building Excellence in Every Room
No Limits: Building Excellence in Every Room
8:45 AM
What if the greatest barrier to your students' excellence is not their ability but your belief in it? In this session Maria A. Ellis gets real about the limits we unconsciously place on our ensembles before a single note is sung. Through research on teacher expectations and student achievement Maria introduces a practical framework for building a culture where creativity thrives, ownership is expected, work ethic is the standard, and nobody in the room gets to decide what is not possible. This is not a session about what your students cannot do. It is about what they will do when you finally require it of them.
Gospel Music in the Choral Classroom: From Tradition to Technique
Gospel Music in the Choral Classroom: From Tradition to Technique
2:00 PM
Gospel music is one of America's greatest musical traditions and one of the most underrepresented in our music education training. This genre is often left out of our music history books and many directors hesitate to teach it because they did not grow up in the tradition or they are not sure it is "their" music to teach. In this session Maria A. Ellis removes every barrier. You will learn how to choose the right repertoire for your ensemble, how to dissect a gospel piece with or without a score, how to teach by rote with confidence, how to navigate the vowels and conducting gestures that make gospel music feel authentic, and how to invite improvisation into your rehearsal room. Gospel music belongs in every choral classroom. This session will show you how to get it there.
Maria Ellis
Maria Ellis
Maria A. Ellis is an accomplished conductor, educator, and broadcaster whose work bridges performance, scholarship, and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a vocal emphasis from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from Webster University. Ellis serves as Artistic Director of The Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus and the University of Missouri–St. Louis Voices of Jubilation Community Gospel Choir. She is also the creator and host of two award-winning radio programs , Bach and Beyoncé and American Gospel with Maria A. Ellis , broadcast on Classic 107.3, The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis. Through these platforms, she explores intersections of classical and popular traditions, as well as the cultural significance of gospel music. A sought-after clinician and conductor, Ellis has directed multiple All-State ensembles and, in 2023, made her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall. She serves as Chair of the Choral Council for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and is a member of the Board of Directors for Chorus America. Her leadership and artistry have been recognized with the 2024 UMSL Women’s Trailblazer Award and the 2025 Music Education Impact Award from Webster University . She is widely regarded for her commitment to inclusive pedagogy, artistic excellence, and the advancement of music education on both national and international stages.
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